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( M 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' E. LANGEN.

GONSTRUGTION 0F GENTRIFUGAL MAGHINES.

No. 247,369. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

N4 PETERS Pholwuma n her. Washin ton D. C.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. LANGEN.

GONSTBJUGTION OI OENTRIPUGAL MAGHINES. No. 247,369. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGEN LANGEN, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,369, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed May 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, EUGEN LANGEN, a citizen of Prussia, residing at Cologne, in the Empireof Germany, have invented an Improvement in the Construction of Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of centrifugal machines, as follows The covers of centrifugal machines are generally secured to the drum by a number of screws, and the joint is rendered tight by the interposition of a caoutchouc packing-rin g. In place hereof I employ a special form of packing, consisting of an elastic ring, as shown at A, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, placed in a circular groove of the cover and pressed by centrifugal force, on the rotation of the drum, against the side of the drum by means of a loose weight situated in the said groove. The said weight can either consist of segmental pieces of a heavy substance, such aslead, placed in the groove behind the elastic ring, as shown at B, Fig. 1, or it may consist of a heavy fluid, such as mercury, introduced into a closed tubular elastic ring, as shown at A, Fig. 2. The cover,being fitted loose within the walls of the drum, as shown, is secured in position therein by means of a few sliding bolts. For the purpose of treating the substance in the drum-with liquids, such as clarifyin g-liquor, I construct the drum with a double side in such a manner that while the inner wall allows moisture to penetrate through it the outer wall does not allow such penetration. The walls may either be cylindrical or polygonal. The lye or clarifying-liquor is caused to enter centrally at the axis of the drum, and is made to flow through special channels,'C, Fig. 3, into the annular space D between the two walls, from which, owing to the differential action of the centrifugal forces, it is caused to flow from the periphery to the axis-that is, from outside to insidethrough the material contained in the drum, and then to flow off over the cover of the same. If the lye or clarifying-liquor be introduced through a passage formed in the center of the drum-axis, which can readily be done, such passage may be connected by a stuffing-box fluid-tight, with a pipe conducting the liquid, steam, or gas into it, in which case such liquid, steam, or gas may be introduced under pressure. Aftercompletion of the treatment with the lye or clarifying-liquor, the liquor still remaining in the space 1) and in the pores or interstices of the substance treated is removed by centrifugal force upon opening escape-valves. These valves may, according to the construction of the machine,be arranged either as at E, Fig. 3, so that they can only be opened by screw-spindles when the drum is stationary, or'they may be arranged as at F, so as to be able to be opened by suitable mechanism while the drum isin motion. In the drawings the valves F are for thispurpose connected to levers F, pivoted at E and acted'upon by a spindle, F passing centrally through the axis of the drum. 7

For rendering the space D accessible for cleansingor removing any substances that may have entered it, the inner perforated wall, G, is constructed of a number of separate pieces, as shown detached at Fig. 4, These sections are surrounded by elastic material, such as a framing of caoutchouc, H, of a U-shaped section, and they are caused by the centrifugal force to be pressed fluid-tight against the ring J, Fig. 3, at top, against the flange K at bottom, and at both sides against the uprights L, secured between J and K. The inner covering of felt or other porous material, when such is employed, is also applied in the form of separate rectangular pieces to each of the perforated plates, between the metal surface and the elastic framing, as shown.

This construction of centrifugal machine with inner perforated wall can alsobe used for separating solids from liquids, in which case the space D becomes filled with liquid, and the separation will then take place just the same as if the perforated wall were a solid one. In order with this arrangement to distribute the liquid mixture uniformly in the drum and to prevent it from impinging too forcibly from the conical central inlet, Q, of the drum radially against the periphery thereof, whereby a 5 layer of solid matter already deposited on the sides of the drum might be washed away again,

I provide on the bottom of the drum a distributing-ring, M, Fig. 3, opening toward the cen ter, and having a circular rib, N, which breaks the force of the liquid, so that it is made first to fill the space between-the rib and the outer wall of the ring, and then issues with decreased Velocity through the circular holes or-slits O.

In all the above-described operations moldboxes can be introduced into the drum, as shown at I, Fig. 6, which represents a part sectional plan of the drum. In this case the sections of the perforated wall G are made to coincide with the number of the molds, so that the edges of the latter shall always rest against the elastic frame of one of the sections.

\Vhen employing mold-boxes I dispense with covers to the centrifugal drum, and I allow the liquid separated by the centrifugal action, as also the lye or clarifying-liquor, after it has penetrated the material in the dru m, to flow off over the top side of the molds. In order that, with this arrangement, the liquid may not enter the spaces between the molds, I make the top sides of the molds of a less depth at their inner edges than the sides and bottom, as shown at P, Figs. 3 and 5, so that the molds will then only become filled with liquid up to such edge, over which it will flow off without being able to penetrate between the molds. In order that the liquid may-not enter the said spaces on issuing from the inlet-orifices 0, when these are employed, the orifices must be arranged according to the position of the moldsthat is to say, they must only be situated opposite the clear open inner faces thereof.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim- 1. A packing device for centrifugal drumcovers, consistingof an annular elastic packing introduced in a groove in the cover and pressed against the wall of the drum by the centrifugal action of a heavy body, substantially as set forth.

2. A centrifugal machine wherein the liquid, steam, or gas for acting on the contents of the drum is caused to pass from central channels into an annular space outside the perforated wall of the drum, whence it is caused to penetrate inward through the con tents ofzi'firum by the differential action of the centrifugal force, which may or may not be aided by pressure applied to the said liquid, steam, or gas, substantially as set forth.

3. A centrifugal machine for separating solids from liquids wherein the solids are caused to deposit in removable mold-boxes placed in a drum open at top-that is to say, having no cover-the inner edge of the upper side of the boxes being of less depth than the sides and bottom, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with acentrifugal drumcover, of an elastic ring, A, situated in agroove of the cover and operated upon by a heavy body, B, so as to form a close packing with the wall of the drum.

5. In acentrifugal drum, the combination of the passages O O, annular space D, provided with outlets closed by valves, and perforated inner wall, Gr, arranged and operating asherein described.

6. In combination with a centrifugal drum, the inner perforated wall, G, formed in separate sections, provided with an elastic rim, H, for forming a fluid-tight joint with the parts J K L.

7. A mold-box for centrifugal machines, having a top of less depth than the bottom or sides of said box, leaving a passage, P, for fluidsto escape over said top, substantially as shown and described.

8. In combination with a centrifugal ma chine, the distributing-ring M, operating together witll the rib N and holes 0, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the pres'ence of two subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of April, A. D. 1881.

EUGEN LANGEN.

Witnesses:

EMIL MEISENBURG, OTTO FERBER. 

